Brussels bombing survivor Sebastien Bellin's road to recovery

Road to Recovery

On March 22, 2016, Brussels was targeted by terrorists as bombs went off at its airport and train station. Thirty-two people lost their lives and more than 300 were injured, including Sebastien Bellin. From the moment of the blast in the airport, through his recovery, Sebastien did everything he could to not just survive, but to return to the life he loved.

Basketball has always been a big part of Sebastien Bellin's life. His basketball career began at Marist College in New York.

Road to Recovery

Sebastien Bellin retired from basketball and the family moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. He became a partner in a sports streaming startup,‎ Keemotion, which required frequent travel between Europe and the United States.

Road to Recovery

On March 22, 2016, Sebastien Bellin was at the Brussels airport ready to fly home from a business trip when he was hit by a terrorist bomb. An injured Sebastien is captured in a photo seen around the world.

The photographer, Ketevan Kardava, says, “ It was terrible to realize what had happened…It was most important to show everyone , as many say, the face of terrorism.”

Road to Recovery

Road to Recovery

After nearly two hours, Sebastien is put on an ambulance and rushed to a Brussels hospital. He immediately went in for surgery. “The power of an explosion, it just shatters everything. It not only broke my bones, but it exploded my muscle tissue around my bones,’ he explained.